Scheduling and Time Management Molly Gold, Founder of GO MOM !NC, is the creator of The GO MOM!® Planner, the ultimate catch-all day planner for everything that is family. Molly is recognized as an expert on scheduling issues unique to moms. Planning for School Activities Question: It always seems that my children's school events occur during the workday. There are school plays, classroom parties, etc. As a working mother, I find it hard to schedule these events into my day. What's the best way to be able to do it all? And should I be honest about where I am going to my co-workers? I sometimes wonder if it's appropriate to say I'm leaving for a school activity. Thanks in advance for your help. - Kit Answer: Being available for events during the school day is a challenge for busy parents period, whether you're staying at home, working from home or working outside the home. This is where confidence in your choice comes in. Hopefully, when you made the choice you accepted the sacrifices and that requires you constantly work around things. No one, and I mean no one, can do everything and you simply have to prioritize what is most important for your family and then let the rest go. Here are some common sense tips to help you pick and choose. PLAN IT: At the beginning of the school year, sit down with your family with calendars in hand. Make a list of all scheduled school holidays, PTA calendar events and the known school/classroom events. Determine which are the most important to your child and to you and then schedule your vacation time in synch with those dates. Decide how many you can individually cover between spouses, between grandparents, aunts, uncles and then finally good family friends, so your child always has "a cheerleader" present if that is what you want. Hopefully between all those people, you still will have vacation time left for a week in the summer or around the holidays. LET GO: You can't be at everything and you can't give up your vacation to merely cover school events. If you do, then you leave yourself with no personal down time. That only leads to burn out, resentment and misery. Worse yet, what if your child has a an extended illness. Most companies see this as vacation time not sick time as you are not sick. With regard to letting co-workers know why you're taking off time from work, vacation time is earned and is no one's business but yours. As long as you are not missing critical meetings or deadlines, and you are not shirking responsibilities and others are having to pick up where you are dropping the ball this is a non-issue. If your company culture dictates that vacation time is only to be taken in weekly blocks or is only for getting out of the city for travel, then it doesn't sound like a company that values families or understands that personal lives are very busy. That may be your cue to start looking for an employer whose values are more in line with yours. Balance between work and home is something that keeps families whole and employees productive. Also see: Ask Molly your questions Recently answered questions Buy the GO MOM!® Planner